by Tom Perry, University of Birmingham and Rebecca Morris, University of Birmingham

With Theresa May as the new prime minister at the helm of the Conservatives, speculation is already mounting about whether her support for a new academically selective grammar school in her own constituency will translate into national educational policy. This will be a big question for her newly appointed secretary of state for education, Justine Greening.

The debate between those who support the reintroduction of grammar schools and those who would like them abolished is a longstanding one with no…